Method of sensitizing microbial cells to antimicrobial compounds

Abstract

A method of promoting the uptake of exogenous antimicrobial compounds by microbial cells is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the step of exposing the microbial cell to an amount of at least one sesquiterpenoid effective to enhance antimicrobial compound uptake in a microorganism and an antimicrobial compound. An antimicrobial composition comprising at least one sesquiterpenoid and an antimicrobial compound, the sesquiterpenoid being present in a concentration of between 0.1 mM and 50 mM, is also disclosed.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of promoting the uptake of exogenous antimicrobial compounds by microbial cells comprising the step of exposing the microbial cell to an amount of at least one sesquiterpenoid effective to enhance antimicrobial compound uptake in the microorganism and an antimicrobial compound.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the antimicrobial compound is an antibiotic.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the antibiotic is selected from the group consisting of clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, tetracycline, gentamicin, vancomycin and polymyxin B.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the antimicrobial is a food grade antimicrobial compound.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the microbe is a bacterium.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the microbe is a fungus.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sesquiterpenoid is selected from the group consisting of farnesol, nerolidol, bisabolol and apritone.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the sesquiterpenoid is nerolidol.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the sesquiterpenoid is farnesol.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the sesquiterpenoid is bisabolol.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the sesquiterpenoid is apritone.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sesquiterpenoid is at a concentration of between 0.1 mm and 50 mM.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the concentration is between 0.5 mM and 2 mM.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  comprising a mixture of at least two sesquiterpenoids.  
     
     
         15 . An antimicrobial composition comprising at least one sesquiterpenoid and an antimicrobial compound, the sesquiterpenoid being present in a concentration of between 0.1 mM and 50 mM.  
     
     
         16 . The compound of  claim 15  wherein the concentration of the sesquiterpenoid is between 0.5 mM and 2 mM.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16  wherein the antimicrobial compound is an antibiotic.  
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the sesquiterpenoid is farnesol.  
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the sesquiterpenoid is nerolidol.  
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the sesquiterpenoid is bisabolol.  
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the sesquiterpenoid is apritone.  
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 17  wherein the antibiotic is selected from the group consisting of clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, tetracycline, gentamicin, vancomycin and polymyxin B.  
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 15  comprising at least two different sesquiterpenoids.